Efficient Container Handling

by Reachstacker
WATARU MIZUNUMA* 1
HAJIME TSUJI* 1
AKIKO SHINOZAKI* 1

(4) The absence of a mast and the low height of the machine allow easy yard-to-yard movement and entry
into warehouses, etc. resulting in high mobility.
Recently in Japan, the operator's qualification for this
type of equipment was changed from crane operator's
license to fork-loader operator's license, which is easier
to acquire than the former. This legal change has triggered an increase in the domestic demand for
reachstackers.

1. Introduction
In recent years reachstackers, which are more efficient than conventional large-size forklifts, are being
used increasingly in container terminals in Japan to replace such forklifts. The volume of containers being
Fig. 1),
1 and achandled worldwide is also increasing (Fig.
cordingly we have developed a new type of reachstacker
that may answer future replacement demands and can
be expected to sell well in the future.

3. Equipment characteristics

2. General description of the reachstacker

3.1 Handling performance

The newly developed reachstacker has the following
handling capacities:
1st row (1st stack to 4th stack): 45 t
(5th stack):
42 t
2nd row (1st stack to 4th stack): 29 t
3rd row (1st stack to 3rd stack): 15 t
A loaded container usually weighs approx. 30.5 tons
so that almost all loaded containers in the 1st and 2nd
rows can be handled.
In addition, the spreader installed at the top of the
boom is intended for both 20 ft and 40 ft containers,
and a side-shift mechanism, rotation mechanism and
forward-backward tilt mechanism are provided to enable accurate container positioning during stacking up
of containers.

The reachstacker is a machine that is used exclusively

to move and stack up empty or loaded containers in container yards. It also load containers onto trailers and
unload containers from trailers. The introduction of
reachstackers to replace conventional large-size forklifts
is already a mainstream development in stevedoring
operations at overseas ports and harbors, especially at
local ports (where there are no large facilities such as
gantry cranes) and at cargo transport terminals. The
advantages of reachstackers are described below.
(1) Containers not only in the first row but also in the
Fig. 2
second and third rows can be handled (Fig.
2).
(2) There is good freedom of maneuvering while holding a
container, facilitating accurate positioning at stacking.
(3) The absence of a mast allows very good forward visibility and easy operation.

.
..

400

1 400
1 200

300
200

1 000
800

800

600
400
200

100
200
1992

2000

Worldwide demand for

reachstackers (unit)

Container handling volume

(million TEU)

"TEU" stands for twenty-feet equivalent unit.

2002

Year
Fig. 1 Worldwide container handling volume and worldwide
demand for reachstackers

Fig. 2 View of reachstacker at work

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Technical Review Vol. 42 No. 1 (Feb. 2005)

*1 General Machinery & Special Vehicle Headquarters

Twist lock indicator

CAN-BUS
network

Controller 2
(within cabin)

SLIB

. Save cabling
. Improve
reliability
Controller 1
(above
spreader)

Main

Error display window

Alarm

Monitor

Load indicator
Log

Maintenance

DD-MM+YY
hh:mm
10
5
0

Controller 3
(within equipment body)

15

20
25
100
RPM

50

100
40

12.3/12.3 m

FUEL

Display and joy stick

130
o

12345.6h

12.3

1/2

12.3 t Lifting
12.3

load
monitor

40

130
o

12.3 m -1.2 m

Controller 1
(spreader control)

Controller 2

Controller 3

(operation control)

(drive control and

centralized control)

40

+12.3 +12.3

130
o

Fig. 4 Touch-panel type liquid crystal display

Fig. 3 Controller area network

3.2 Hydraulic control system

Pump discharge performance corresponding to the
container load can be gotten by variable displacement
pumps and load sensing circuits. This system eliminates the possibility, for instance, of the operation
speed slowing down drastically when a heavy container
is lifted, and improved operation efficiency can thus
be expected.
Lifting, lowering and telescoping of the boom are controlled by a number of pump circuits that are
independent of each other so that simultaneous operation and speed control of different functions, which are
impossible with other manufacturers' equipment, have
been enabled. These mechanisms can also provide very
convenient and user-friendly functions such as vertical
lifting and horizontal movement of containers.
3.3 Electronic control system
The structure of this reachstacker is characterized by
its boom that can be retracted and extended like a crane
and its cab that is movable forward and backward. Each
of such movable parts is equipped with a device for controlling communications by controller area network
(CAN). This system simplifies wiring details and imFig. 3
prove reliability (Fig.
3).
In addition, a touch-panel type colored liquid crystal
monitor is installed in the operator's cabin to display

the basic equipment status indicators. These include

engine tachometer and fuel gauge as well as spreader
position, current lifting load, maximum permissible load,
alarm, error messages and operation history that are
Fig. 4
very useful to the user and service side (Fig.
4).
3.4 Safety considerations
A very important element of this reachstacker is the
concept of safety considerations. While it allows handling
of containers in the second and third rows, which no other
conventional large-size forklifts can do, there is a possibility of overturning forward if the boom is operated
improperly.
In order to prevent such a disaster, this reachstacker
is equipped with a fail-safe function that automatically
stops operation before overturning can occur, and thereafter allows only safe operation. The reachstacker also
has a function that prevents lifting of a load heavier than
the maximum permissible weight.

4. Conclusion
Various technical problems relating to functions and
safety which were inherent to reachstackers have now
been solved so that the newly developed reachstacker,
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. believe, will be able
to serve customers satisfactorily from now on with improved efficiency of container transportation.

Wataru Mizunuma

Hajime Tsuji

Akiko Shinozaki

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Technical Review Vol. 42 No. 1 (Feb. 2005)